Light and Transient Causes, a novel

The polarization of the American people is placing democracy at risk.

Did you ever wonder how totalitarian societies such as those portrayed in the hit books and movies Divergent and The Hunger Games came to be? It could very well begin by electing a man like Donald Trump to be President of the United States.

Light and Transient Causes is just one example of what could happen if we lose faith in our democratic principles and become so intolerant of our differences that we are unable to work with each other.

Democracy thrives within the delicate balance between rights and responsibilities. In this story, the pendulum swings too far to the right and the consequences are devastating.

The title, Light and Transient Causes is taken from the Declaration of Independence:

“Prudence indeed shall dictate that governments long established shall not be changed for light and transient causes; but when a long train of abuses and usurpations. . . .”

Brief excerpts from Reviews:

Excellent! Spell binding. It is a captivating story that could become reality. Classic case of government with too much power and too little intelligence. -RMB, posted at Amazon.com

“Powerful, and tightly written. . . Hawkins skill at erasing time barriers and including portions of elements that are very much with us adds to the terror of this theme. . . .” – Grady Harp, posted at Amazon.com

“I don’t give 5 stars usually but this book deserves that and more. . . . Well written, well plotted, character development and dialog was excellent. Well done Mel Hawkins, well done!” – BBB Gran, posted at Amazon.com

“This is a superb book. . . . Mel Hawkins has done a splendid job in juggling all the twists, turns and complications of this very believable novel. Books like this don’t come along very often. . . .” – Charlie B, posted at Amazon.com

“I was fascinated by the book and fearful at the same time. . . . It’s chilling in the sense that it’s all possible in the world we live in today. Awesome read!” – Brian, posted at Amazon.com

“The best book I have read this year. . . . Absolutely, hands down, knock off your socks book to keep you wanting more. . . . I have read many war novels that fell short with battle scenes; this book was right on the money.” – Cody Mathews, posted at Onlinebookclub.org

See more of the reviews below.

Light and Transient Cause: A brief synopsis:

It is 202x and the U.S. faces crises of historic proportions on both the international and domestic fronts. Following horrific acts of terrorism, unprecedented natural calamity, abandonment by our allies, and an embargo by oil-producing nations; the collapse of the American economy has created incendiary conditions in our cities. Out of fear, the American people elect a reactionary candidate for the Presidency on the basis of his promise to restore domestic peace and prosperity at any cost. From a hopeful slumber, Americans awaken to the harsh reality of martial law.

As racial tensions escalate, the prejudices of the American people spiral out of control. Many Americans blame their government’s policies in support of Israel as the root cause of the nation’s problems and anti-Semitism, directed at both Jews and Arabs, becomes the fashion of the day as manifested by brutal persecution. On the domestic front, African- and Hispanic Americans are blamed for the deterioration of our cities and racism, always lurking beneath the surface of the American social cauldron, erupts on an unprecedented scale.

In Indianapolis, two groups of Americans, one African-American (ReGenesis) and the other, middle class professionals of moderate political persuasion (The Resistance), independently choose to resist a government that no longer represents the will of its people. ReGenesis, Inc. is a business entity committed to elevating African-Americans and other minorities from dependency to economic and political parity through education and free enterprise. The Resistance is committed to the restoration of democratic principles, premised on the idea that freedom must be balanced by responsibility.

The military government, using outbreaks of racial violence as its justification, uses Indianapolis as a test case by creating an encampment in the central city into which African- and Hispanic Americans are interned. The leaders of ReGenesis and The Resistance join forces within the encampment to create what they call the “Free City of Indianapolis.” The military government’s response to this “act of treason” and “domestic terrorism” is swift and brutal repression. Under merciless and violent attacks by the military government, the people of the Free City endure great tragedy and hardships as they defend the liberty of their community and its people.

Two high-ranking officers in the military government agonize over their complicity in a series of atrocities against American citizens. Yielding to his conscience, the first officer withholds vital evidence against the leaders of The Resistance and warns them of their impending arrest. He joins the leaders of The Free City, a fugitive of justice.

Under the command of the Military Governor of the State of Indiana, the government is poised to destroy the last vestiges of resistance. The second officer, the Military Governor’s Chief of Staff, arrives on the scene as American soldiers prepare to fire upon citizens who have gathered to protest the attacks on the people of the Free City. Unable to live with his own culpability, the officer seizes command of the attacking forces and orders an immediate cessation of hostilities. Risking everything, he contacts the leaders of the Free City and, in their last desperate act, the protagonists appeal to the American people to restore the principles of democracy and rule of law.

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Light and Transient Causes:

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[Following are excerpts from the official reviews of Light and Transient Causes, at the www.onlinebookclub.org.

“Light and Transient Causes is a fiction book of about 360 pages in length. It comes across as a thriller, however I found myself unable to put it down. The best book I have read this year. I was riveted by the way all the actors were introduced and woven into the story without falling short of any details or suspense. Absolutely, hands down, knock off your socks book to keep you wanting more.

The book is set in “present day” plus a few years. . . . Indianapolis is chosen as a test project by the newly installed “Military Governor of Indiana,” and the action begins right from the beginning of the book all the way to the last sentence. The scary thing was the references to present day people . . . and events that have taken place . . . to make me feel like this “could” happen, but felt good knowing that it was fiction.

If you want to read a thriller that has a lot of battle scenes straight out of a war novel, then I would recommend this book. I give the book 4 out of 4 stars. It is worth reading for both fiction and non-fiction readers. I am more of a non-fiction, war novel type reader, so that is why I feel this book was so good. I have read many war novels that fell short with the battle scenes; this book was right on the money. . . .”

5 Stars Review: Unless we act
ByBBB Gran on April 14, 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I don’t give 5 stars usually but this book deserves that and more. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading this. From being appalled to being uplifted and everything in between, I realized the biggest emotion I felt was fear. The credibility of this happening is frightening. Our apathy and lack of action is the very thing that will allow something like this to happen.
Well written, well plotted, character development and dialog was excellent.
Well done Mel Hawkins, well done!

The following 5 star review was posted on www.amazon.com by a reader:

Light and Transient Causes takes a futuristic look at the United States in a worst case scenario: crippling social unrest, unthinkable terrorist acts and an imploding American economy. As citizens elect a leader promising a return to civility, the 50 states are placed under martial law. Two anti-government citizen groups in Indianapolis, ReGenesis and the Resistance band together in protest. What transpires is a bloody government response to the rebellion.

I was fascinated by the book and fearful at the same time. The author incorporated all the domestic and international issues facing the country and placed them on a collision course. It’s chilling in the sense that it’s all possible in the world we live in today. Awesome read!

-Brian

The following 5 star review was posted on Amazon.com on 10/5/13

This is a superb book. Set in the near future in the USA, or maybe the Disunited States would be more apt, the author shows just how easy it is to turn a civilized tolerant nation into a fascist dictatorship in no time at all. Just two presidencies after Obama, the authorities are rounding up ethnic minorities, and shipping them off to who knows where. Well observed, and not at all far fetched, it’s only too easy to imagine this happening. The central characters are very well written and the dialogue flows smoothly. You actually want to know what happens next. Mel Hawkins has done a splendid job in juggling all the twists, turns and complications of this very believable novel. I think that this is his first work of fiction (Amazon don’t have any others) but what a start! Books like this don’t come along very often so if you’ve read this far in the reviews, you can stop now and just buy it. You won’t be disappointed.